Project Proposal: Candice Nunez

Project Proposal for Senior Project

March 25, 2015

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tournament benefiting

the Challenged Athletes Foundation

By: Candice Nunez

Communications, B.A., Public Affairs/Information
Concentration
Candice.nunez@laverne.edu
909.992.2594

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Table of Contents:

I. Background Information
II. Introduction
III. Components of the Tournament
IV. Tournament Equipment
V. Tournament Staff and Volunteers
VI. Tournament Itinerary
VII. Waiver of Liability for Competitors
VIII. Contact Information Regarding Tournament

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I. Background information:
I am currently a senior at the University of La Verne and majoring in communications with an
emphasis in public affairs. As public relations majors we are required to complete a senior
project as the final stepping stone before receiving our bachelors degree. In the public relations
world practitioners are more often than not continuously planning, organizing, and executing
events for their clients. Throughout my public relations career here at La Verne I have chosen to
focus and harness my energy in the sports public affairs field. I have a concrete background and
knowledge in the sports world and decided to steer my senior project into that direction.
For my project I have decided to host a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament benefiting the Challenged
Athletes Foundation. Having a few years experience in this field and currently training and
acting as a teaching assistant to the current professor of jiu-jitsu here at La Verne, I felt that
hosting and executing a tournament at this level would be right up my career path. Since
planning and executing this project is a requirement for my major here at the University of La
Verne, I would like to host the event here on campus.

II. Introduction:
The Challenged Athletes Foundation is an organization that provides the opportunities and
support to people with physical challenges so they can pursue healthy lifestyles through physical
fitness. The Challenged Athletes Foundation believes that involvement in sports at any level
increases self-esteem, encourages independence, and enhances quality of life.
Unfortunately some athletes face physical challenges when it comes to participating in sporting
activities. The purpose of this campaign is to raise awareness and money to help support people
with physical challenges so that they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and
competitive athletics. The ultimate result of my campaign will be to raise awareness for the
Challenged Athletes Foundation. Because this organization is not as well-known as the Special
Olympics Foundation, I hope to shine a light on physically impaired athletes who often go
unnoticed in the competitive sports world.
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is a martial arts sport that focuses on grappling and ground fighting. The sport
promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger,
stronger opponent by using proper techniques and leverage. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a competitive
sport that has increased in popularity over the past several years. Since the demographic at this
University and at the nearby training facilities have taken great interest in the sport, correlating a
charity event raising awareness for athletes of a different caliber was the perfect way to combine
both of the physical and physically impaired worlds.
Since I am a student at the University I would like to host this tournament at the University of La
Verne Sports and Science Athletic Pavilion in the second floor gymnasium. Since this project

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fulfills my degree at this University and is the main component upon graduation in my major, I
felt it would be best to hold it at the location that requires me to complete this project so that
fellow students that live on or off campus can attend, as well as professors and members of the
community. I have already spoken with the Athletics Facilities Manager, Crescensio Gonzales,
and have secured the location with the allotted time of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

III. Components of the Tournament

The actual tournament will be run in typical jiu-jitsu style tournament pooling. Participants of the
event will pre-register with background information (ie. Name, age, experience level/belt color,
weight, and training facility affiliation), after all competitors have been registered they will
receive confirmation emails and verification of all information.
On the day of the event, upon arrival participants will be asked to sign a waiver of release before
participating in activity relating to the event along with verification of proper identification.
(Copy of waiver will be shown in section VII).After all paperwork is in order, between 9 a.m.
and 11 a.m. participants will weigh in so that they can be placed into their proper brackets
pertaining to their weight and skill levels. In between those hours the competitors will take the
time to warm up and get accustomed to their surroundings in preparation for their competition.
At promptly 12 p.m. the event will start, one by one each division will be called and the
competition will begin. Each match up will be refereed by a coach with high level ranking from
the UFC gym, Mt. San Antonio College Wrestling Program, as well as from the Emguarda MMA
facility. Each referee has had years of experience participating in tournaments and hosting them
themselves. The rules of the tournament are of basic US grappling rules as listed below:
1) No unsportsmanlike conduct will be allowed. You may be disqualified or ejected for unsportsmanlike
conduct. The referees will be shown maximum respect at all times. Their decisions are final and will
not be overturned.
2) No striking, biting, eye gouging (includes chin to eye), head butting, small joint manipulation (finger or
toe locks), hair pulling, grabbing the windpipe, or ear pulling will be permitted.
3) No slamming allowed. Illegal slamming will be defined as slamming your opponent to escape
submissions and/or to pass the guard; or standing from the guard and/or jumping from a standing position
to slam your opponent. Slamming will result in an automatic DQ. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Takedowns are NOT considered slams, but you must deliver your opponent safely to the mat.
4) No infectious skin diseases (such as ringworm, staph, and MRSA) or open wounds will be
permitted. No lubricants, oils, or lotions of any kind will be permitted on any part of the body or clothing.
5) Competitors will be allowed to continue grappling anywhere on the matted area, provided they dont
interfere with another match. If the competitors near the edge of the mat, they will be restarted from the
same position, unless the referee is unable to duplicate the position for any reason. In case the referee is
unable to duplicate the position, the competitors will restart from a standing position.
6) If a competitor flees the ring when a submission is locked in and the competitor is obviously fleeing to
avoid submission, he or she will be automatically disqualified.
7) Women will not be permitted to compete in Mens divisions. Men will not be permitted to compete in
Womens divisions.

Once each division has been completed the winners will be directed towards the awards table
and collect their medal or certificate, this step is repeated until all divisions have been completed

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around 5 p.m.

IV. Tournament Equipment

The mats that the competitors will be competing on will be the current mats that the jiu-jitsu and
kickboxing classes use at the University. The mats were recently purchased in 2014 so they are
brand new and kept up to regulation regarding cleaning and safety. Since the tournament will be
in the Universitys gym there will be seating provided for spectators and other competitors in the
stands. There will also be six separate tables with staff on hand at each. One table is designated
for registration, identification and waiver signing upon arrival, another table will be designated
for weighing in and bracketing of divisions, the next one for distribution of awards and
certificates. Two tables are solely for scoring and will be placed in front of the mat to keep track
of time and points on the specific match. The last table will be the information center for the
Challenged Athletes Foundation; it will include brochures and boards with information on the
charity and how to donate.

V. Tournament Staff and Volunteers

Host/Senior Project Affiliation- Candice Nunez
University of La Verne Jiu-Jitsu Professor- Liron Wilson
Athletics Facilities Manager- Crescensio Gonzalez
Mt. San Antonio College Wrestling Coach/Volunteer- Garibaldi Maldonaldo
Volunteers:
Edgar Gomez
Sasan Poveitan
Gage Henderson
Desiree Hernandez
Monica Corona
Paul Deeb
Alexis Chavarrin
Adrianna Utley
Arian Gutierrez

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On the day of the event there will also be two to three volunteer EMT certified medical staff on
hand throughout the event along with University of La Verne athletic training students that are
currently enrolled in the athletic training program. There will be three experienced referees with
high level ranking in the jiu-jitsu world overseeing and calling the divisions.

VI. Tournament Itinerary

8 a.m.: Staff and volunteers show up to set-up and organize event
9 a.m.-11 a.m.: Participants arrive and report to registration and weigh-ins
11:45 a.m.: Introductions and background on the Challenged Athletes Foundation
12 p.m.- 4:30m p.m.: Tournament begins with one division at a time
4:45 p.m.: Closing remarks, thanks and questions
5 p.m.: End of event

VII. Waiver of Liability for Competitors

Below is a copy of the waiver of liability that was drafted up for this specific tournament and that
has been overlooked by an attorney:

INFORMED CONSENT, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, AND WAIVER OF

LIABILITY
BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU TOURNAMENT BENEFITING
THE CHALLENGED ATHLETES FOUNDATION (BJJ CAF)4/18/15

PLEASE PRINT PARTICIPANTS NAME

HERE____________________________AGE_________
THIS IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN, (SIGN
HERE)______________________________________
(Participant) and the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tournament benefiting the Challenged Athletes
Foundation, including its officers, directors, representatives, volunteers, employees,
members, and all other persons or entities acting in any capacity or their behalf as well as
their successors and assigns (BJJ CAF). SIGNING THIS INFORMED CONSENT, ASSUMPTION

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OF RISK AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY (Waiver) IS CONDITIONED PRECEDENT IN ORDER THAT
I MAY HAVE PERMISSION FROM BJJ CAF TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT LISTED ABOVE
(Event) AS A COMPETITOR (Competitor). IN THE EVENT I FAIL TO SIGN THIS WAIVER OR
EXECUTIVE IT INCORRECTLY, I STILL AGREE TO ABIDE BY ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS A
CONDITION OF PARTICIPATION IN THE EVENT. The participant hereby acknowledges and
agrees that in consideration of being permitted to participate in the Event that
he/she hereby agrees to the following terms and conditions.
1. I hereby agree to indemnify, defend and hold BJJ CAF harmless from all liability
due to my participation in the Event as all persons, corporations, or other legal
entities involved in the production and coordination of this Event, including but
not limited anyone else on BJJ CAFs behalf, including but not limited to the Event
facility members, directors, officers employees and agents.
2. There are no third party beneficiaries to this waiver. If any portion of this waiver is found
to be invalid or unenforceable the remaining provisions shall remain in effect.
3. I acknowledge that I am familiar with the sport and rules of the event, including but not
limited to submission grappling, and the importance of following these rules in order to
reduce the probability of injury to myself and others.
4. I understand that I have the right to withdraw from the Event in light of any such
potentially dangerous condition and that if I fail to advise BJJ CAF staff or volunteers, and still
choose to continue with the Event, I will be doing so at my own risk.
5. I acknowledge that I will be engaging in an Event that might result in serious injury,
including but not limited to permanent disability or death. As a result of these injuries, I may
incur severe social and / or economic losses due to not only my own actions omissions or
negligence, but also to the actions, omissions or negligence of others, the nature of the
Event and / or conditions of the premises or any equipment used. Further, I acknowledge
that there may be other risks not known to me or not reasonably foreseeable at this time.
6. BJJ CAF does not require blood tests of its competitors for any conditions including
hepatitis or HIV. I understand that the Event creates risk of exposure to the blood of others
and that this fact presents a risk of contracting diseases such as those mentioned herein and
I accept such risks as a condition of participation in the Event.
7. I acknowledge that there are no refunds issued to spectators or competitors for any
reason.

THE PARTICIPANT HAS READ AND VOLUNTARILY SIGNS THE WAIVER

AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT AND DOES
SO VOLUNTARILY AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT
SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS ARE BEING GIVEN UP.

*Along with this waiver, if upon request, competitors will be required to sign the waiver of
liability provided by the University.

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VIII. Contact Information Regarding Tournament

Candice Nunez Host

Candice.nunez@laverne.edu
909.992.2594

Randall Miller- Professor of Communications/Senior Seminar Advisor

rmiller2@laverne.edu

Liron Wison- Jiu-jitsu/Kickboxing Professor

lwilson@laverne.edu
323.360.5380

Crescencio Gonzalez- Athletics Facilities Manager

cgonzalez@laverne.edu
909.938.8914